Ted Cruz left Mandela memorial during Raul Castro speech

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who attended a memorial Tuesday for former South African President Nelson Mandela, reportedly walked out of the service early as Cuban President Raul Castro addressed the crowd.

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“Sen. Cruz very much hopes that Castro learns the lessons of Nelson Mandela,” a spokeswoman for Cruz told ABC News. “For decades, Castro has wrongly imprisoned and tortured countless innocents. Just as Mandela was released after 27 years in prison, Castro should finally release his political prisoners. He should hold free elections, and once and for all, set the Cuban people free.”